Speaking in west London on Wednesday, Mr Clegg, who will chair a Ministerial Group to drive forward action across Whitehall, said ministers are committed to creating a more socially mobile society.

He also confirmed the appointment of Alan Milburn MP to undertake independent, annual reviews of progress on social mobility.

Mr Clegg said:

This government is committed to the long term - to making decisions today that will promote a better future: a more prosperous economy, and a fairer society. Our determination to fix the deficit is matched by our determination to create a more socially mobile society.

The Deputy PM said his particular focus will be on the extent to which a person’s income or social class is influenced by the income or social class of their parents. He said some of the key barriers to social mobility included differences in pre-school years, educational inequalities and levels of parental involvement.

Mr Clegg said he was “delighted” that Mr Milburn has agreed to review the effectiveness of the Government’s approach to increasing social mobility and the contributions of actions undertaken by civil society, employers, community groups and other non-government organisations.

In a letter accepting the post, Mr Milburn said:

The goal of an open mobile society where all have a fair chance to progress is something that has motivated me all my adult life… For me, the job of politics is to make that possible by breaking down the barriers that prevent people from realising their potential. In this new role I aim to fairly and independently assess the progress each set of institutions is making to a United Kingdom where there are more opportunities for people, regardless of their starting point in life, to realise their aspirations.